Russian Attack Jet Shot Down Over Syria By Rebels, Pilot Dead

Pilot Killed By Ground Forces After Safely Ejecting

The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that a Russian Su-25 ground attack plane was shot down over Syria by anti-Assad rebels. The pilot safely parachuted but was killed on the ground by rebel ground forces.

“On 3 February 2018, a Russian fighter jet Su-25 crashed when flying over the Idlib de-escalation zone. The pilot was able to report ejection from an area controlled by Jabhat al-Nusra militants (the terrorist group banned in Russia – TASS),” the defense ministry said. “The pilot was killed while fighting against terrorists.”

“According to preliminary information, the jet was brought down with a portable anti-aircraft missile system,” it added.

Russia has materially reduced its forces located at Syrian facilities in the Middle East as the Russian presidential election approaches on March 18 of this year. The Russian Defense Ministry has however declared its naval base at Tartus, and the new air base at Hmeimim, near Latakia, will be permanent.